here<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe event enjoyed full institutional backing, with attendees including Berni \u00c1lvarez,<\/strong> Regional Minister for Sport of the Government of Catalonia; Fernando Molinero<\/strong>, Director General of Sport at the Spanish Sports Council (CSD); Juan Guerrero-Burgos<\/strong>, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG); \u00c1nder Mart\u00ednez<\/strong>, President of the Spanish PGA; and Ram\u00f3n Agenjo<\/strong>, Director and Secretary of the Board of Directors at Damm.\u00a0 Representing Real Club de Golf El Prat, Vice President \u00cd\u00f1igo Montesino-Espartero Velasco<\/strong> attended the event on behalf of the President, who was unable to be present due to prior commitments.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mygolfway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/EDCC26-Players.jpg\")
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The tournament will not only mark the start of the 2026 European Swing but also positions itself as the first major milestone in an unprecedented \u201cRoad to 2031\u201d.<\/p>\n
During the event, both leaders emphasized the scale of the project. Beyond the competition itself, the goal is clear: to position Catalonia as one of the leading golf destinations worldwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are facing a very significant moment for European golf,\u201d<\/em> said Kinnings. \u201cBarcelona is a region used to hosting major sporting events, and this tournament will generate a substantial economic impact and, above all, leave a lasting legacy in the region.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nIn the same vein, Villavecchia highlighted the long-term vision behind the project: \u201cIt was a natural evolution. We have been linked to golf for years and wanted to be part of a long-term project, not just a one-off initiative.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe championship is therefore born with a dual ambition: to be a global event capable of attracting fans from all over the world \u2014 with spectators expected from more than 80 countries \u2014 while also reflecting Catalan culture, hospitality and identity.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mygolfway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/EDCCH26-3.jpg\")
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One of the keys of the event was Spain\u2019s historic role in the Ryder Cup. With 11 Spanish Ryder Cuppers and legends such as Seve Ballesteros, Spain\u2019s legacy remains very much alive on the tour.<\/p>\n
In fact, the tournament will kick off on May 7, a particularly symbolic date as it marks the 15th anniversary of Ballesteros\u2019s death. The DP World Tour has announced that on that day all players will wear Seve\u2019s iconic outfit \u2014 navy trousers, a navy jumper and a white polo shirt \u2014 as a tribute to one of the great legends of world golf.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpain has had a huge impact on the Ryder Cup, both through its players and the passion of its fans,\u201d<\/em> said Kinnings. \u201cThat legacy remains very much alive and is now looking to the future from Catalonia.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nOn the sporting side, the tournament will feature a strong Spanish representation. In addition to confirmed players Pablo Larraz\u00e1bal, Nacho Elvira and \u00c1ngel Ayora<\/strong>, new names include \u00c1ngel Hidalgo, Eugenio Chacarra, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Adri Arnaus and Jorge Campillo.<\/strong><\/p>\nAll of them highlighted the special feeling of competing at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always very special to play in Spain,\u201d<\/em> one of the players said in a video message. \u201cIt\u2019s a spectacular course and I\u2019m sure it will be a great week, with strong support from the fans.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\u00c1ngel Hidalgo<\/strong> also expressed his excitement about being part of the journey towards the Ryder Cup: \u201cI\u2019m really happy to play the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship and to be part of this road to 2031.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mygolfway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/EDCCh-26-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
One of the highlights of the event was a live appearance by Adri Arnaus<\/strong>, one of the key local players, who joined remotely from Dubai.<\/p>\nThe Catalan golfer, who has ties to Real Club de Golf El Prat, did not hide his excitement:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to play at home. Having friends, family and Spanish fans close by is something unique. Whenever you compete here, you feel truly supported.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nArnaus also pointed out the impact of tournaments like this on younger generations:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor young players, it\u2019s a huge motivation. Watching these tournaments and seeing the players makes you want to train harder and dream about being there one day. I experienced that myself as a kid.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nFrom Estrella Damm, the role of the tournament within a broader territorial strategy was also highlighted.<\/p>\n
\u201cGolf generates high-quality tourism that integrates into the environment and delivers real economic value,\u201d<\/em> explained Villavecchia. \u201cEvents like this help position Catalonia internationally and create sustainable growth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship<\/strong> will also be the first in a series of events to be held across different Catalan courses in the coming years, reinforcing the idea of a progressive journey towards 2031.<\/p>\nWith strong institutional backing and the involvement of both public and private stakeholders, the project aims to leave a mark beyond a single week of competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to build something that lasts,\u201d<\/em> said Villavecchia. \u201cThis is not just about organizing a great event, but about creating a legacy that will be remembered when the Ryder Cup arrives in 2031.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThe first step is already set. From May 7 to 10, Real Club de Golf El Prat will once again take its place on the European golf map and begin a journey that promises to shape the future of golf in Catalonia.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship<\/strong>, a DP World Tour tournament included in the Race to Dubai as the first event of the European Swing, is held thanks to the essential collaboration of the Real Club de Golf El Prat. It is sponsored by Estrella Damm and will kick off the Road to 2031 Ryder Cup, a journey that will end at the 2031 Ryder Cup to be held at Camiral.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 7, 2026 – The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship\u00a0is now a reality. At the official presentation held on April 30 at the Antiga F\u00e0brica Estrella Damm, Barcelona took the first step in a journey that goes beyond sport: a strategic project that connects the present of the DP World Tour with the horizon of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":176120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127],"class_list":["post-176304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-european-tour-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176304"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176304\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.100x100.net\/projects\/mygolfway\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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